You
heard how I told you, ‘I go away, and I come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I said ‘I am going to my Father;’ for the Father is greater than I. Now I have told you before it happens so that, when it happens, you may believe. I will no more speak much with you, for the prince of the world comes, and he has nothing in me. But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father commanded me, even so I do. Arise, let us go from here.
John 14:28-31
John 14 [22.] Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, what has happened that you are about to reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?”
John 14 [23.] Jesus answered him, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our home with him. He who doesn’t love me doesn’t keep my words. The word which you hear isn’t mine, but the Father’s who sent me. I have said these things to you, while still living with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you. Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, give I to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful. You heard how I told you, ‘I go away, and I come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I said ‘I am going to my Father;’ for the Father is greater than I. Now I have told you before it happens so that, when it happens, you may believe. I will no more speak much with you, for the prince of the world comes, and he has nothing in me. But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father commanded me, even so I do. Arise, let us go from here.
John 15 [1.] “I am the true vine, and my Father is the farmer. Every branch in me that doesn’t bear fruit, he takes away. Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already pruned clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can’t bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me. I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If a man doesn’t remain in me, he is thrown out as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you.
Meaning:
Jesus had just given his disciples his peace and told them, “Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful” (John 14:27). These verses close the first part of his farewell teaching. He explains why his departure should bring them joy, warns of the coming conflict with the evil one, and rises to go out and meet his hour.
- “I go away, and I come to you”
Jesus reminds them of his double promise: he is leaving through death and return to the Father, but he will come to them again (John 14:18). Separation is real, but it is not the end.
- “If you loved me, you would have rejoiced”
The disciples loved Jesus, but their love was focused on keeping him with them. True love would see that his going to the Father meant his return to glory, the completion of his work, and blessing for them through the Spirit. Their sorrow was understandable, but it looked only at their own loss.
- “For the Father is greater than I”
These words have been discussed throughout church history. John’s Gospel clearly presents Jesus as God: “the Word was God” (John 1:1), and Jesus said, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). Many interpreters therefore understand “greater” as referring to Jesus’ position during his earthly mission, when he had humbled himself and come as the one sent, “taking the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:7). Others understand it as describing the eternal relationship within the Trinity, in which the Father sends and the Son is sent, while both share the same divine nature. Either way, the point here is that Jesus was returning to the Father’s glory, and that was cause for joy.
- “I have told you before it happens”
Jesus repeatedly predicted his death and departure so that when it happened, the disciples would not lose faith but find it strengthened. Events that might seem to disprove his claims would instead confirm them.
- “The prince of the world comes, and he has nothing in me”
Jesus saw Satan behind the approaching arrest, working through Judas and the authorities. Earlier he had said, “Now the prince of this world will be cast out” (John 12:31). Satan had no claim on Jesus, no sin to accuse, no hold on him. Jesus was “in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). He would die not because the devil had power over him, but because he freely chose to obey the Father.
- “That the world may know that I love the Father”
The cross would show the world Jesus’ love for the Father as well as his love for sinners. His obedience to death was the clearest proof of that love.
- “Arise, let us go from here”
With these words Jesus rose to face the hour. In Gethsemane he would say again, “Arise, let us be going” (Mark 14:42). The teaching in chapters 15 to 17 may have continued as they prepared to leave or walked toward the brook Kidron (John 18:1).
The Significance of John 14:28-31
- Love that rejoices in God’s purpose
Loving Jesus means rejoicing in what pleases the Father, even when it costs us.
- Victory over the evil one
Satan had nothing in Jesus. Believers can face spiritual conflict knowing that Christ has already won.
- Obedience as love
Jesus showed his love for the Father by doing what the Father commanded. His followers show their love in the same way.
Cross-References:
John 1:1: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Jesus' full deity.
Philippians 2:7: "but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant," The Son's humble mission.
Hebrews 4:15: "one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin." Satan has nothing in Jesus.
Mark 14:42: "Arise, let us be going." Jesus rises to meet his hour.
Conclusion: Jesus told his disciples that if they truly loved him, they would rejoice that he was going to the Father. He warned that the prince of the world was coming but had no hold on him, and that his obedience would show the world his love for the Father. Then he rose to go out and face the cross.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible